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only definition

only (ōn′lē)

adjective

  1. alone of its or their kind; by itself or by themselves; sole
  2. having no siblings an only child
  3. alone in its or their superiority; best; finest

Etymology: ME < OE anlic < an, one + -lic, -ly

adverb

    1. and no other; and no (or nothing) more; solely; exclusively drink water only
    2. merely; simply
  2. (but) in what follows or in the end to meet one crisis, only to face another
  3. as recently as elected only last fall

conjunction

Informal were it not that; except that; but I'd have gone, only it rained
only Idioms

if only

would that; I wish that if only they would leave; if they would only try harder

only too

very; exceedingly

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms only idiom

only Synonyms

only

modif.

  1. Solely

    exclusively, uniquely, wholly, entirely, severally, particularly, alone, and no other, and no more, and nothing else, undividedly, nothing but, totally, utterly, first and last, one and only; see also individually, singly.

  2. Merely

    just, simply, plainly, barely, solely; see also hardly.

  3. Sole

    single, without another, companionless, by oneself, isolated, apart, unaccompanied, exclusive, unique, unclassified; see also alone 1, solitary.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

only Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • not: Dialog between persons, between faiths, is not only to learn about each other.

Infinitive complement

  • establish: It is not only to establish a relationship between I and You.

Modifies a noun

  • one: We are the only one to actually offer 5 times more exposure than you do.

Used with adjective complement

  • shower: Bad Points: Very small room and cramped bathroom ( shower only ).
only usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

only quotes

Only in America could a Don King happen.

-King, Don

Do you think that the things people make fools of themselves about are any less real and true than the things they behave sensibly about? Theyare more true: theyare the only things that are true.

-Shaw, George Bernard

only quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"only." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/only>

APA Style

only. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/only

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